During games he's always there, on the end of the bench, dressed to the nines, lending his support to the team in all the ways except the one that matters most.

By playing.

Derrick Rose's steadfast refusal to suit up for the Chicago Bulls until every last ounce of his psyche says it's full-steam ahead is all at once the most interesting/annoying/frustrating/eye-rolling/enthralling/thought-provoking story of the NBA's postseason. Cleared to play for nearly two months after rehabbing from ACL surgery, we've seen Rose dunking in pregame warmups, participate in full-contact practices with one of the most rugged teams in the league and then toss on a suit and watch.

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As the Bulls make an inspired run through the playoffs and could be considered a real contender with him on the court, Rose's absence has gotten under Chicago fans' skin so much that they've taken it out on him. Rose, a hometown sports hero, has had to endure the most heat, jabs and ire of his life.

It all reached such a crescendo it prompted his emotional and outspoken teammate, Joakim Noah, to snap out on his behalf after Monday night's Eastern Conference Game 1 win over Miami.

"Derrick's a brother," Noah said. "And to see him go through this is tough, but at the end of the day it's really funny how quick people are to judge. But people don't know what it's like to lead a team, especially after you tore your ACL.

"If you tore your ACL and you have to be the starting point guard and have the expectations that Derrick has, then maybe you can judge. But everybody who hasn't been in that situation before should really shut up because I feel like it's just so unfair to him and to this team. We're fighting, and everybody's going to just (talk bad about) somebody who's been giving so much to this organization. It's crazy to me."

All of which brings up the most important question: How much does Rose -- or any injured player -- owe to his team versus himself?

L.A. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant pledges to get back to his team as fast as possible after a torn Achilles tendon. He will not sit out one second longer than it takes for doctors to clear him.

Nuggets guard Ty Lawson admitted to the pressure of returning too quickly from a heel injury later diagnosed as torn plantar fascia.

New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert tore his ACL on the exact same day last season that Rose tore his. Shumpert has been playing since January.

Rose's future has been his supporters' main argument for accepting his nightly DNP status, the vague reasons why and a door continually propped open in case he wants to return. His future earnings, his future ability to play at a high level -- better to sit out now and not risk anything for then.

Noah and his teammates are solidly behind this, even as they fight through an assortment of injuries to field enough competitive players to forge on.

Noah (plantar fasciitis) is hobbled; Kirk Hinrich (calf) is out; Luol Deng (spinal tap) is out. No playoff team is as depleted as this one. And yet all of them, out of duty to the team, are either working hard to return or, in Noah's case, just playing through it.

None, however, is complaining about Rose.

"I think he's dealing with it unbelievable," said Noah of Rose. "He's tough as nails, man. He's not budging. He doesn't let none of that affect him; whether it's praise or people judging him about his decision, he's the same. He's the same, and I really respect that because I don't think a lot of people could deal with the things that he deals with on a daily basis."

If Rose's teammates and the organization are fine with it all, shouldn't we all be?

One thing is for sure: Rose's situation is slowly setting a precedent by changing the landscape of what we demand, require and can question about athletes, their bodies and how quickly they return from injuries.